Wrapper



Jan. 31, 1933. w. A. KOCH WRAPPER Filed May 29, 1931 Patented Jan. 31, 1933 UNITED STA TES WILLIAM A. KOCH, OI CHICAGO, ILLINOIS WRAPPED Application filed lay 29,

The invention relates generally to wrappers. More particularly the inventlon relates to that type of wrapper which 1s to .encase a cigarette packa e or like article, and consists of a rectangu ar sheet of cellophane which is folded at the central part thereof to form a front, bottom and back, has its side margins folded inwardly and cemented or pasted together in overlapped relation to form sides and has the end margins folded inwardly to form a pair of overlapping wrapper.

In practice it has been found that a wrapper of the aforementioned type, although 1t serves to encase efficiently the cigarette package and to render the latter moisture proof, is exceedingly diflicult to tear open for the reason that cellophane will not tear readily. across a straight edge-and the only exposed edge is the straig t edge at the outer end of the uppermost flap at the top of the wrapper.

One object of the invention is to provide a cellophane wrapper of the type under consideration in which the uppermost flap is cut or notched at the outer edge thereof so as to form a starting tear and thus make it possible readily to remove the wrapper from the package with which it is associated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cellophane wrapper of the last mentioned character in which the notch at the 5 outer edge of the uppermost flap is V- shaped, forms a pair of laterally spaced tabs whereby parts of the flap may be gripped by the fingers in effecting removal or tearing of the wrapper and is located in the central or intermediate portion of the edge so that the tear which is made in removing the wrapper from the package tends to bisect the uppermost flap.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a wrapper of the type herinbefore set forth in which the upper parts of the wrapper sides are folded inwardly over the top of the package and under the flaps to form infoldments, and the uppermost flap projects beyond and is free with respect .to

flaps for closing the top of the p 1981. Serial No. 540,806.

the under fla so that ready access may be had to the ta s.

A further object of the isvention is to provide a cello hane wrapper for a cigarette package, w ich is generally of new and improved construction and is more practical than previously designed wrappers of the same general type.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present wrapper construction will be aparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularl defined by claims at the conclusion hereo In the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference'denote correspondng parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of a wrapper em- I bodylng the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective exhibiting the manner in which the notch in the outer edge of the uppermost flap at the top of the wrapper permits the flap to be torn readily in removing the wrapper from the cigarette package;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the wrapper; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the cellophane sheet from which the wrapper is formed.

The wrapper which forms the subject matter of the present invention is adapted to encase, and form a moisture-proof enclosure for, a package 5 of cigarettes and is formed of an imperforate, rectangular 'sheet 6 of cellophane. The sheet 6 is folded at the central portion thereof to form a front 7 a bottom 8 and a back 9. The side margins of the sheet are folded inwardly, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, and are cemented or otherwise secured together in overlapped relation so as to form sides 10. The sides 10, together with the front 7 the bottom 8 and the back 9, form a rectan ar compartment in which the cigarette pac age 5 fits snugly. The upper parts of the sides 10 project beyond the sides of the package and are folded inwardly over the package top to form infoldmcnts 10. The end margins of the sheet 6 form a pair of flaps 11 and 12 at the top of the wrapper. Theflap 11 is associated with the back 9 and is creased, as at 13, so that it extends inwardly and forms a closure for the top of the package compartment. It is superimposed upon, and 1s cemented or pasted to, the infoldments 10 and terminates inwardly of the flap 12. The flap 12 is associated with the front 7 of the wrapper and is creased, as at 14, so that it extends inwardly. It overlaps and projects beyond the flap 11 and is cemented or pasted to the latter so as to effect a complete seal for the top of the compartment in which fits the package 5 of cigarettes.

- In order to make it possible to tear the flap 12 so as to effect complete and ready removal of the wrapper from the cigarette package 5, a notch 15 is cut in. the outer edge of the flap 12. This notch is V-shaped, is located in the central part of the outer end edge of the flap 12 and serves to form a pair of laterally spaced tabs 16 at the ends of the flap and beyond the undermost flap 11. When one of these tabs is raised or pulled relatively to the other, the flap 12 is caused to be torn across the central portion thereof. This is due to the fact that the notch 15 is in the nature of a partial tear and tends greatly to facilitate tearing of the cellophane. By locating the notch 15 in the central portion of the outer edge of the flap 12, the flap is caused to be bisected when it is torn and there is a tendency for the wrapper to be torn so as to expose one corner of the cigarette package. The tendency for the wrapper to be torn so as to expose one corner of the cigarette package is attributable, in addition to the location of the notch 15, to the fact that when one of the side parts of the flap 12 is raised by manipulation of the appended tab 16 and so as to effect a tear from the notch 15 to the crease 14, the enfoldment 10 which is associated with such end part of the flap 12 serves as an anchor and confines the end part so that further movement or manipulation thereof is around the continguous corner of the package, with the result that the tear is down and across the front 7 of the wrapper, as shown in Fig. 2 of' the drawing, and the aforesaid corner of the package is exposed.

When it is desired to tear the wrapper so that access may be had to the cigarettes within the package 5, one of the tabs 16 is pulled upwardly. This upward pull operates to raise one of the side parts of the flap 12 and causes a tear across the central part of the flap 12 and from the apex of the notch 15 to the crease 14. After effecting the aforementioned tear, further pull upon the tab results in the side part of the flap 12 with which the tap is associated being swung to one side about the contiguous corner of the package. This swinging of the side part of the flap causes the wrapper to be torn down and across the front 7 and results in exposure of the underlying corner of the package. After the wrapper is torn in this manner, the package 5 may be torn open "at the exposed corner for removal of the cigarettes or by further tearing of the wrapper it 'may be readily withdrawn from the compartment that is defined by the front, bottom, back and sides of the wrapper.

The herein described wrapper is more practical than previously designed wrappers of the same general character in that it embodies the V-shaped notch 15 which makes it possible to tear readily the uppermost flap of the wrapper in removing the wrapper from the package of cigarettes with which it is associated. Inasmuch as the means for efiectin ready tear of the flap 12 is in the form 0 a V-shaped notch and is located in the extended or free end part of the flap 12, the cost of the wrapper is not increased and the wrapper serves as a moisture-proof enclosure or pack for the package.

The invention is not to' be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A wrapper for a substantially rectangular commercial package, consisting of a comparatively tough, thin sheet of material havlng the properties and characteristics of cellophane and wrapped around the package so,

that it encases the four sides of the package and projects beyond one end of the package, the projecting portions of two opposed sideencasing parts of the wrapper being folded inwardly over the said one end of the package to form infoldments, the projecting portions of the other two side-encasing parts of the Wrapper being connected to the first mentioned projecting portions and forming oppositely facing flaps for closing the said one end of the package, one of the flaps being folded over and superimposed upon the two infoldments, the other flap being folded over and sealed to the said one flap and having an unsealed outer end edge and a preformed cut or notch in said edge for the purpose of starting a tear in the up per flap when one of the parts of the upper flap at opposite sides of the cut or notch is gripped by the fingers and pulled relatively to the other part, said wrapper sheet being arranged to encase the other end of the package and having no exposed cut or notch other than the aforesaid cut or notch in the upper flap and being sealed marginally so that the wrapper renders the package completely moisture-proof.

2. A moisture-proof wrapper for a substantially rectangular commercial package,

consisting of an lmperforate, comparatively tough, thin sheet of material having the properties and characteristics of cellophane and wrapped around the package so that it encases the four sides of the package and projects beyond one end of the package, the projecting portions of two opposed side-encasin parts of the wrapper bein folded in-' wardly of the saidsone end of t e package to form infoldments, the projecting portions of the other two si-de-encasing parts of the wrapper being connected to the first mentioned projecting portions and forming oppositely facing flaps for closing the said one end of the package, one of the flaps being folded over and superimposed upon the two infoldments, the other flap being folded over and sealed to the said one flap and having an unsealed outer end edge and a reentrant formation in said edge for the purpose of starting a tear in the upper flap when one of the parts of the upper'fiap at opposite sides of the formation is gripped by the fingers and pulled relatively to the other part.

3. A wrapper for a substantially rectangular commercial package, consisting of a substantially imperforate, comparatively tough, thin sheet of material' having the properties and characteristics of cellophane and wrapped around the package so that it encases the four sides of the package and projects beyond one end of the package, the projecting portions of two opposed side-encasin parts of the wrapper being folded inwardl y over the said one end of the package to form infoldments, the projecting portions of the other two side-encasing parts of the wrapper being connected to the first mentioned projectm portions and forming oppositely facing aps for closing the said one end of the package, one of the flaps being folded over and superimposed upon the two infoldments, the other flap being folded over and cemented to the said one fia and having the distal end thereof projectm beyond and free with respect to said one ap, said distal end of the said other flap having a straight outer edge and being provided with a cut or notch in said edge so as to form a starting tear in the upper flap and also to form a pair of side-by-side tabs beyond and outwardly of the under'flap whereby parts of the upper flap may be gripped by the fingers and pulled relatively to one another for flap-tearing purposes.

4. A moisture-proof wrapper for a substantially rectangular commercial package, consistin of an lmperforate, comparatively tough, t in sheet of material having the properties and characteristics of cellophane and wrapped around the package so that it encases the four sides of the package and projects beyond one end of the package, the projecting portions of two opposed sideencasing parts of the wrapper bein folded inwardly over the said one end of t e package to form infoldments, the projecting portions of the other two side-encasing parts of the Wrapper being connected to the first mentioned projecting portions and forming oppositely facing flaps for closing the said one end of the package, one of the flaps being folded over and superimposed upon the two infoldments, the other flap bein folded over and cemented to the said one ap and having the distal end thereof projecting beyond, and free with respect to, said one flap, said distal end of the said other flap having a reentrant formation at substantially the central portion of the edge thereof to start a tear in the upper flap when one of the parts of said distal end at opposite sides of the formation is gripped by the fingers and pulled relatively to the other part.

5. A moisture-proof wrapper for a substantially rectangular commercial package, consistin of an imperforate, comparatively tough, thin sheet of material having the properties and characteristics of cellophane and wrapped around the package so that it encases the four sides of the package and projects beyond one end of the package, the projecting portions of two opposed side-encasing parts of the wrapper being folded inwardly over the said one end of the package to form infoldments, the projecting portions of the other two side-encasing parts of the Wrapper being connected to the first mentioned projecting portions and forming oppositely facing flaps for closing the said one end of the package, one of the flaps being folded over and superimposed upon the two infoldments, the other flap being folded over and cemented to the said one flap and having the distal end thereof projecting beyond, and free with respect to, said one flap, said distal end of the said other flap being provided with a cut or notch in the edge thereof so as to form a starting tear in the upper flap and also to form a pair of side-by-side tabs beyond the under flap whereby parts of the upper flap may be gripped by the fingers and pulled relatively to one another for flaptearing purposes.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 22d day of May, 1931.

WILLIAM A. KOCH. 

